Cricket
Red Star consolidated their lead in Cricket Wairarapa's Bidwell Cup senior men's competition by claiming maximum points against Marist Old Boys at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton on Saturday.
Nothing extraordinary about that as, with Red Star at the top of the points table and Marist Old Boys lying fifth of the six teams, an outright win to Red Star was always on the cards.
What was extraordinary, though, was that Saturday was actually the first day of a two-day match set to end next weekend, which would have to make it one of the quickest finishes to a Bidwell Cup match in the history of that competition.
A depleted Marist Old Boys were bowled out twice for a combined total of just 75 runs and the game was all over by tea.
Batting first, Marist Old Boys capitulated in 13 overs for 29, with Red Star's Xavier McCluskey finishing with figures of 4-10.
Red Star replied with a rapid 202-1 in 34 overs, thanks in the main to an unbeaten century by Troy Burling, who was on 100 when the declaration was made, and 88 by his opening partner Sean Jarvis.
The Marist Old Boys' second innings was only marginally better than their first. This time they were all out for 46 and again it was former Rathkeale College pupil McCluskey who did the damage.
The medium pacer took his wicket haul for the match to 10 by finishing with 6-19.
A1 Homes Kuranui Old Boys had Wairarapa College in some strife when play ended on the first day of their fixture.
Once again in-form Sam Curtis grabbed the limelight when Kuranui Old Boys reached 212 in their first innings. Curtis dominated the scoring with his 118 not out, which included 14 fours and two sixes.
Bowling for Wairarapa College, Stefan Hook-Sporry took 3-34.
Wairarapa College were all out in their first innings for 96 of which Lucien Burt made 31, Nathan Elliott 21 and Josh Pepperell 18.
Bowling for Kuranui Old Boys, former Wairarapa rep Hayden Spierling claimed 5-37 and Sanjay Patel 3-15. The students were 6-1 in their second innings when stumps were drawn.
Flight Centre Lansdowne made 153 in their first innings against Greytown. Choi Jackson top scored with 49. Greytown were 155-7 at the end of play, a two run lead with three first innings wickets intact.
